Deep fat fryer



March 22, 1955 PAPPAS 2,704,507

DEEP FAT FRYER Filed Oct. 16, 1951 INVENTOR,

United States Patent DEEP FAT FRYER Phillip M. Pappas, Houston, Tex.

Application October 16, 1951, Serial No. 251,599

Claims. (Cl. 99408) This invention relates to certain valuable improvements over the disclosure in my prior United States Patent No. 2,338,964, issued January 11, 1944.

An object of this invention is the construction of a quickly and easily removable separate sediment compartment section. In my previous patent, it will be noted that in order to remove the lower sediment chamber or section for cleaning or replacement it is necessary to revolve same a considerable number of times due to the fact that a threaded connection is used to thread the lower chamber into the valve above. This new disclosure permits the removal of the lower chamber with a slight turn of the chamber.

Further, this new disclosure permits the valve between the frying compartment and the sediment compartment to be removed simultaneously with the sediment compartment exposing said valve so that it may be lifted free of the sediment compartment for quick and easy cleaning.

A further object of this invention is that when the valve on top of the sediment compartment is lifted free easy entry can be made into the sediment compartment for thorough cleaning by means of the hand size hole which is exposed when the valve portion is lifted off the sediment compartment.

A further object of this invention is that a larger passageway can be used between the upper frying compartment and the lower sediment compartment which permits the food particles from the food being fried to gravitate more quickly and easily to the lower sediment compartment.

A further object of this invention is that the overall height of the entire fryer can be reduced to a minimum as there is a saving in vertical space required since the face to face measurement of commercial gate valves, as shown on my Patent No. 2,338,964, are quite large, whereas the hinged disc valve, shown in this disclosure, requires a much smaller amount of vertical space as the disc swings into the sediment compartment when the valve is in an open position.

A further object of this invention is that the valve can be made of light weight steel stampings instead of heavy cast machined construction as is employed in commercial gate valves. These sheet metal stampings are not only more easily and quickly made but, in addition, permit much greater ease of cleaning for greater sanitation. To further clarify this point, I wish to point out that in the manufacture of frying apparatus, under my Patent No. 2,338,964, a commercial bronze gate valve was employed as none were available at reasonable cost in material other than bronze. The reactions. of the acids in the fat caused the gate valve to become corroded with verdigris, whereas the construction of the sheet steel stamped valve, shown in this disclosure, not only prevents said verdigris formation but the quick and easy removal of the sediment compartment and the valve itself permits easy and thorough cleaning for greater sanitation.

A further object of this invention is that the substitution of different size lower sediment compartments, the value of which is fully outlined in my Patent No. 2,338,964, can be more quickly and easily made with the construction shown in this disclosure as the sediment compartment can be removed by revolving it less than one inch and another placed thereon by holding it in place and revolving it less than one inch. In addition, suitable handles for holding and turning the sediment compartment are provided on the compartment itself, as shown in the drawings.

2,704,507 Patented Mar. 22, 1955 A further object of this invention is to provide a. quick and easy operating valve between the upper frying compartment and the lower sediment compartment. As shown in the drawings, a turn of the valve handle of approximately will open or close the valve shown in this disclosure, whereas commercial gate valves, shown in my Patent No. 2,338,964, require a considerable number of revolutions to open or close. Also, from just looking at the exterior of the gate valve, the operator cannot possibly tell whether the valve is in an open or closed position, whereas, with the valve shown in this disclosure, the position of the handle clearly indicates whether the valve is in an open or closed position and said positions can be indicated on the exterior of the lower sediment compartment, as shown in the drawings. This eliminates the possibility of the chef frying foods without being aware that the valve between the upper frying compartment and the lower sediment compartment was closed, as could and did happen when using the commercial gate valve as shown in my Patent No. 2,338,964.

A further object of this invention is the elimination of the threaded connection between the upper frying compartment and the lower sediment compartment or chamber, as well as threaded connections for installation of the gate valve employed in my Patent No. 2,338,964. Large threaded nipples of the type used under my Patent No. 2,338,964 were prone to leak fat unless they were tightly screwed up and a thread sealing compound was employed. With these threaded connections, the removal and replacement of the sediment compartment requires considerable effort, whereas this disclosure not only makes the removal and replacement of the valve and sediment compartment quickly possible but also accomplishes same with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator and, as a slight revolution of the sediment compartment greatly compresses the synthetic gaskgt seals, leakage between the connections is eliminate With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top view looking down on the top of the separate sediment compartment with cut-away sections showing the construction of this invention.

Figure 2 is a front vertical view showing the lower portion of the upper frying compartment, passage tube down to the lower sediment compartment and the upper portion of the lower sediment compartment with a cut-away view showing the valve and seal arrangement of this invention.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the separate sediment compartment. 2 is the top of the separate sediment compartment. 3 is the valve seat. 4 is the upper flanged seal which is attached to the outlet tube 8. 5 is the lower gasket which effects the seal between the top 2 of the sediment compartment 1 and the valve seat portion 3. 6 is the upper gasket which effects the seal between valve seat 3 and upper flanged seal 4. 7 is the locking collar or ring attached to the top 2. 8 is the outlet tube from the frying compartment. 9 is the lower section of the upper frying compartment. 10 is the right hand separate sediment compartment handle. 11 is the left hand separate sediment compartment handle. 12 is the valve disc. 13 is the valve locking bracket. 14 is the valve actuating crank. 15 is the valve operating handle. 16 is the valve disc mounting bracket attached to the under side of valve seat 3. 17 is the attaching means for holding parts 13 and 16 together in a hinged manner. 18 is the stufling box nut. 19 is the stufiing box. 20 is the support or bearing for valve actuating crank 14. 21 is the lower drain valve. 22 is the valve locating pin. 23 is the packing material used in stutfing box 19. 24 is the upper flanged disc locator opening. 25 is the valve cam slot. 26 is the cam locking tongues. 27 is the valve locating slot locking collar 7 on an angle to give said tongues a cam action when the sediment compartment is turned clockwise.

The valve disc 12 is in an open position while frying so that the sediment from the food being fried gravitates into the lower sediment compartment 1. To remove the sediment from the sediment compartment 1, the operator turns the handle 15 from the position marked open over to the closed position shown on the drawing. The turning of this handle turns the valve actuating crank 14 and the end of the valve actuating crank 14 goes through the valve cam slot 25. It will be seen that turning the handle 15 to the closed position exerts a pressure on valve disc 12 against the valve seat 3. When the valve is closed, the lower drain valve 21 is opened, which permits the fat containing the sediment from the foods being fried to be drained off separately and strained for re-use. The valve handle 15 is then placed in the open position and the unit is again ready for frying.

To remove the sediment from compartment 1, the operator grasps handles 10 and 11 and makes a slight turn on the sediment compartment 1 counterclockwise. This permits the flanged locator opening 24 to come under the locking tongues 26 so that the sediment compartment 1 will drop free. The valve seat portion 3 can then be taken oif the top of the sediment compartment 2 by slightly turning and disengaging the slot 25 from the actuating crank 14. The valve seat with the disc thereon can then be easily washed and cleaned.

The removal of the valve seat 3 exposes a large opening hole in the top of the sediment compartment 2 which permits easy hand entry into the sediment compartment 1 for thorough cleaning of the compartment. When this is done, the valve seat 3 is placed back on the gasket on the top of the sediment compartment with gasket 5 in between and with gasket 6 on top of the valve seat 3. The valve slot 25 is again engaged by the end portion of the valve actuating crank 14 and the valve is located on top of the sediment compartment by placing the valve locating pin 22 in the valve locating slot 27. The sediment compartment is then placed underneath the upper flanged disc 4 with the flanged disc locator opening 24 directly underneath the locking tongues 26 and the sediment compartment is then rotated slightly in a clockwise manner which compresses the gaskets forming a seal and holding the sediment compartment in proper alignment.

It will be noted that mating circular depressions are formed in the top of the sediment compartment 2, the valve seat 3 and the upper flanged disc 4 that permit their proper alignment and also hold the gaskets 5 and 6 in their proper position. In addition, these circular depressions add greatly to the strength of the sheet steel in which they are formed so that they serve not only as a means of aligning the parts and of holding the gaskets in their proper position but also serve to strengthen said parts greatly so that light weight steel stampings can be used and so that pressure exerted on the seals forms a positive and liquid-tight connection seal.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of my invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such alterations or changes as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a frying apparatus, the combination, of an upper frying container and a lower sediment container thereunder, means detachably securing and sealing said containers together, said upper frying container provided with a flange, said sediment container provided in its top with a gasket-receiving groove, a gasket in said receiving groove, a valve seat between said flange and said gasket-receiving groove, a gasket between said gasketreceiving groove and said flange, a valve in said sediment container and being adapted to close against said valve seat, and manually operated means connected to said valve for actuating the same.

2. In a frying apparatus, the combination with a trying container of a sediment container detachably mounted thereon, said sediment container provided in its top with a groove, a gasket in said groove, a valve seat above said gasket, said valve seat provided with a groove registering with said first-mentioned groove, a gasket in said groove of the valve seat, an outlet tube, said outlet tube provided with a sealing flange, said sealing flange provided with a groove registering with said first-mentioned grooves, a gasket between said groove of said valve seat and groove of the sealing flange, a valve disc and means pivotally mounting the same on said valve seat, and manually operated means connected to said valve disc for operating same.

3. In a frying apparatus, the combination with a frying container of a sediment container detachably mounted thereon, a valve seat in the top of said sediment container, a bracket secured to the under face of said valve seat, a second bracket pivotally mounted upon said firstmentioned bracket, a movable disc valve secured to said second bracket and being adapted to close against said valve seat, said second bracket provided with an elongated slot, a valve-actuating crank having a portion extending into said elongated slot, and a swinging operating handle connected to said valve-actuating crank.

4. In a frying apparatus, a sediment container having a top provided with a centrally disposed opening, said top having a depressed groove surrounding the opening concentric thereto, a flange upstanding from the top surrounding said rib and concentric thereto, a gasket seated in said groove, a valve seat having a central opening and a depressed annulus concentrically surrounding and providing a groove in its upper surface and a corresponding rib on its under side engaging said gasket, a second gasket resting in the groove of said valve seat, a frying container having a tubular lower end provided at its bottom with a peripheral flange having a depressed rib formed therein and resting on said second gasket, latching means releasably connecting the upstanding flange of said top and the last mentioned flange, a valve plate movable into and out of engagement with the under side of said valve seat, and means eflecting movement of said valve plate.

5. In a frying apparatus, a sediment container having a top provided with a centrally disposed opening, said top having a depressed groove surrounding the opening concentric thereto, a flange upstanding from the top surrounding said rib and concentric thereto, a gasket seated in said groove, a valve seat having a central opening and a depressed annulus concentrically surrounding and providing a groove in its upper surface and a corresponding rib on its under side engaging said gasket, a second gasket resting in the groove of said valve seat, a frying container having a tubular lower end provided at its bottom with a peripheral flange having a depressed rib formed therein and resting on said second gasket, a bracket depending from said valve seat adjacent its opening, a valve operating plate fixed to the valve plate and having one end pivoted to said bracket, said valve operating plate having an elongated opening, a shaft extending through the wall of the sediment container and provided with a crank engaging in said opening, and an operating handle fixed to said shaft exteriorly of said wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,295 Kintner et a1. May 21, 1907 1,583,310 Reeves May 4, 1926 2,086,357 Farber July 6, 1937 2,250,858 Ducat July 29, 1941 2,338,964 Pappas Jan. 11, 1944 2,354,483 Thompson July 25, 1944 2,378,632 Hooker et a1. June 19, 1945 2,401,529 Varvey et a1 June 4, 1946 2,571,015 Columbus Oct. 9, 1951 2,652,828 Matheson Sept. 22, 1953 2,654,306 Sacker Oct. 6, 1953 

